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In efforts to help minimize unsafe situations, parents are requested to limit trick-or-treating on Wednesday, October 31, from 3 p.m., to no later than 7 p.m., and are encouraged to plan for a safe Halloween with the following tips:

Costumes should be fireproof.

If facemasks are used, make sure your children can see well enough through them. Consider using makeup instead.

Costumes should be made of white or very light colored materials. You can decorate your child's costume and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape or patches to make them highly visible to motorists.

Toy weapons and other props, i.e., swords, broomsticks, hatchets, wands, etc. should be made of cardboard or Styrofoam. Sharp instruments are dangerous.

Children should wear their regular shoes instead of costume shoes.

Trick-or-treating should be done during daylight hours. If out after dark, provide each of your children with a flashlight to prevent falls on porch steps and on sidewalks. Do not use jack-o-lanterns or candles.

A responsible adult or teenager should accompany each group of children. Never let your children travel down a street by themselves. Walk with them to each house and wait in the driveway and/or by the door until the children return.

Instruct your children that they should never enter the home of a stranger or accept rides.

Watch for traffic and always walk while trick-or-treating. Never run.

Try, if possible, to limit the size of each group of children to four or five.

Adults can help by keeping their front yards well lighted.

Parents should check all "treats" before allowing children to eat them. Only give or accept wrapped or packaged candy.

Stay in your own neighborhood and go to houses that have porch lights on.

Parents should know exactly the route their children are taking and should set a time limit for trick-or-treating.

To help trick-or-treaters who come to your house, remove all obstacles from the steps, porch, sidewalk and lawns.

Trick-or-treating should be for young children only.

"If anything unusual occurs or you suspect candy tampering, the Lombard Police, 9-1-1, should be called immediately," said Chief Newton.